u/HelicopterBusy8595

I'm on the Reflection currently, its my second Celebrity cruise after a lovely time on the Summit last December.

A main draw for my cheap butt was the free drinks in the casino benefit, so I was disappointed to see this change to be Oynx+ right before my cruise.

I'm just gonna say: I actually don't hate it.

It took some grinding at the VP machines but I hit Oynx the very end of night 2 and quickly ran to get my key card updated and got to have a full night last night with free drinks.

What I am not hating is they seem to have dialed in their drink service. There ARE actually servers around. They ARE actually offering drinks. And not just well drinks - I got negronis and martinis and was seeing trays of pina colas and dare I even say, espresso martinis?! I told one of the servers (s/o Ari!) I'd be camped out at the VP, gave him a $5, and I swear that man handed me a fresh glass the rest of the night the moment I took my last sip - impeccable. The bar was also chill about giving drinks instead of shooing me away to the floor to find a server.

Its a radically different experience than before the tier change where servers were mystical invisible beings serving only occasional well drinks and bar service took some eyelash batting.

This actually feels like a real benefit. I hope they keep it up.

Side note: to the multiple women who have made grabbing a server a coordinated group effort, bless you and thank you.

Because I have the time and it's kind of fun to think through, dropping some thoughts on all the places I've stayed in Vegas since going for the first time last year. I've made a point to stay a different place each time (often multiple places/trip) to get a sense of what's out there and find "my spot." Just my opinions/experiences, in no particular order......

Bellagio
- Vibe: Extremely busy but nice, somehow not stressful even with the crowds
Rooms: Spa rooms are worth it for the huge bathroom and tub. Sound mitigation is excellent.
- Casino Floor: Is fine, for some reason the slot selection here doesn't speak to me. VP at the Sportsbook in the back is a favorite.
- Pool: My favorite in the winter, open year round and well heated. Summer has better (less crowded) options.
- Food: Largely too expensive for me aside from a one-time nice meal, which means multi-day stays require trips elsewhere for most meals
- Entertainment: O was not my favorite
- Other: Spa tower is my preference since it's super close to the walkway to Cosmo!

Cosmo
- Vibe: Upbeat and just a good fun time
- Rooms: (Balcony suite) I was less impressed. It felt like it was trying to be nice on a budget
- Casino Floor: Hopping, crowded, great range of options for multiple budget levels and slots I have a hard time finding elsewhere (penny Double Top Dollar!). I love that I can get REAL cocktails comped for VP play at Chandelier.
- Pool: N/A
- Food: Fine, but I find myself going over to Aria or Park
- Entertainment: N/A
- Other: Chandelier can be a bit stingy with comp drinks but I've learned the trick is to go before and after the 2am/10am shift changes since whoever is just starting their shift has no idea I was just there 30 min ago.

Luxor
- Vibe: Good cheap fun that can be a good party vibe depending on the night
- Rooms: Tower rooms only for me but they're far from the worst option around
- Casino Floor: A good balance overall, not too busy or dead, and have found it to be a good place to clean up 3-6am
- Pool: N/A
- Food: Tender pre-fixe is a good deal, and I basically subsist off of Backstage Deli's off-menu $10 pasta salad while I'm there
- Entertainment: N/A
- Other: I generally thing this place gets too much hate, it's my go-to for a cheap trip

Mandalay Bay
- Vibe: A children's theme park that happens to include a casino
- Rooms: Bathrooms are HUGE and rooms are generally oversized which is nice, but sound mitigation from the hallway is terrible
- Casino Floor: Decent, I'm liking it more over time. I usually walk over to Luxor though
- Pool: The unheated pool in 105 degree heat honestly slaps. But you will also be slapped by a child at the same time.
- Food: I have been impressed by the quality of Orla and Carama and like that the food options in the Shoppes are a quick walk away (shout out to Ri Ra's)
- Entertainment: N/A (still need to see the MJ show)
- Other: The resort itself is a step up from Luxor (but with good access) but I will not stay here unless it's at the W

The W
- Vibe: Chill, set apart from the chaos (and seemingly constantly under construction)
- Rooms: Love the space and layout (even if the all white everything is....a choice), the separate living room is great for remote work, I love being able to close the bedroom door at night, and love the huge bathroom and tub
- Casino Floor: See above
- Pool: Wet Deck is a marginally less chaotic vibe, I really wish they weren't so lax about letting anyone and their 12 children in
- Food: See above
- Entertainment: See above
- Other: With comps that make room price equivalent across properties, this is the play for MGM South Strip

NYNY
- Vibe: Exciting, fun, sense of lots to do
- Room: Nicely remodeled, appreciate the lack of dingy carpet, but sound mitigation is terrible
- Casino Floor: Never a bad vibe on this floor, it's bustling and exciting
- Pool: N/A
- Food: N/A? (Why eat here when Park is right there....)
- Entertainment: The $36 stage seat tix to Mad Apple are the best deal in town for Cirque
- Other: It's fun and well situated but the rooms aren't sound isolated enough for me to stay here again

Park
- Vibe: Honestly, someone once described it as a funeral home and I can't unsee/unfeel it
- Rooms: Was not impressed, felt cheap and walls/doors were PAPER thin.
- Casino Floor: Decent, a good break from NYNY (non-smoking isn't a factor for me)
- Pool: N/A
- Food: Bavettteeesssssssssss. The end.
- Entertainment: N/A
- Other: Liking it less over time but it's a great base between Aria and NYNY with good food so, eh.

Sahara
- Vibe: Freshly remodeled, it feels bright and clean
- Rooms: Was very happy with the Mara rooms, the long walkway in creates a sense of seclusion and the lighting/closet/bathroom are all unexpectedly nice
- Casino Floor: Rather dead with AP vultures breathing down your neck
- Pool: Love that they keep the rooftop Alexandra pool open in Winter - I had a great time working from the unattended cabanas in January
- Food: Meh
- Entertainment: N/A
- Other: I want to like this place, especially for the quality:value ratio and the monorail access but also I have stayed and played here 3 times and not gotten so much as a "hello" from them let alone comps so.....

Palace Station
- Vibe: Tbh I love it for it's specific vibe. There's something about the cheap machines and the cig + scent laced air that just feels like easy, no pressure fun
- Casino Floor: Lots of cheap slots, you can play long on a small budget here and their "high limit" room has a lot of what would be regular slots anywhere else but with high limit service
- Pool: THIS IS A HIDDEN GEM OMG. Every. Single. Chair. Is. Cushioned. Cabanas are only $150 and that counts as F&B credit. Dole whip is only $8. Food is sanely priced. Service is prompt and abundant. The pool is never too crowded. Wtf. This place wins.
- Food: So, so affordable. I did a double take when I saw their room service menu prices - shockingly not Vegas priced. And the 1/2 off wine HH at the steak house includes champagne. And there's an Oyster Bar. And the $6 burger deal is actually not shit.
- Entertainment: I love that I can play bingo and go see a move in a really nice theater with a pit stop for a $2 marg in-between.
- Other: Honestly, this place is a gem in my book. There's so much to do. You can live like a king here ordering room service and hanging in cabanas and drinking patron and champagne all without having a heart attack when you see the bill.

The Venetian
- Vibe: Busy! Always!
- Rooms: My favorite. I am emotionally attached to the red sectional sofa's in the Venetian suites. It's a most excellent room for remote work.
- Casino Floor: A very busy and very easy to read floor, which makes for good play. And 9/10 of the time, the bartenders at the center bar are super friendly and generous and get to know you and remember you.
- Pool: The best. Beats Bellagio by a mile. It's huge between the Venetian/Palazzo sides, the chairs are cushioned, and there is GOOD SHADE. It's also excellent in the Winter - the daybeds are unattended so you can camp out and work outside in free luxury.
- Food: Lots of good options, and especially many good lunch deals (s/o Milos!)
- Entertainment: N/A
- Other: This is probably my spot, depending on how comps evolve. But in general I love the rooms, pool, floor, and general welcoming and fun vibe.

Fountainebleau
- Vibe: Fuck this place. I've never seen so much fake Gucci and Yeezy sneakers in one place. What I love about Vegas is the sense of freedom and "anything goes" - how sceny the clientele is here creates an environment that runs completely counter to that.
- Rooms: Very nice, sure, fine, whatever. I prefer the Venetian's suites with tubs and sit down vanities.
- Casino Floor: High rollers only. I hated how many machines they had rigged to not allow minimum bets. And the Tavern aka the only spot for tabletop VP was not in fact open 24/7 as advertised.
- Pool: I was excited to check it out but honestly ended up not going because the clientele vibes were so bad in the casino and I knew it would be 10x worse at the pool and my $20 Amazon swimsuit and packing cube repurposed as a pool bag wasn't going to cut it.
- Food: N/A
- Entertainment: N/A
- Other: Even with free nights without resort fees, I am not a fan and would pay dollars to stay elsewhere.

On my to-do list are: Virgin, Palms, Rio, Plaza, Aria, MGM Grand. (After a terrible stay at the Flamingo, I don't put time or money into CZR's anymore).

I know you can stack the $ off MyVegas vouchers with CF/CN, but can you stack with a $ off Points to Paradise coupon from a recent sailing?

I'm on cruise 2 of 2, giving NCL a second try after a fairly terrible experience the first time.

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First cruise was a 4 day Miami-Puerto Plata RT on Getaway. Coming off of Celebrity and Princess cruises - which I have loved - I hated my NCL experience. Getaway was bursting at the seams, lines for restaurants were an hour long, kids were out of control everywhere, people weren't minding their space at all - it was just insane. And stressed and not relaxing at all. Having housekeeping walk onto my balcony to clean while I was naked in my room (which was on DND), clearly see me, and continue cleaning as I stood there in shock naked was the last straw.

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So here I am, on a week long Alaska cruise giving NCL a second chance on Jade. Its a longer journey, a more serious itinerary, a smaller ship - all the variables that might have been off the first time.

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Tonight it hit me what my deal is with NCL: the staff interacts with you not as experience enhancers but primarily as rule enforcers. No you cannot leave the the buffet with food. No you cannot order from O'Sheean's at 1am even though the schedule said open til 4am. Yes we said the casino closed at 1am but at 12:50, we are going to hover over you until you cash out and cringe every hit you get. No we cannot make a French 75 with cognac, only gin. No we cannot make a Manhattan with Bulliet even though its on the FAS list and do you want to talk to the manager. No, no, no, no, no.

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Small ship, longer itinerary, less party crowd and I *STILL* feel like I'm and in a pack of sheep to be herded and kept in line.

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Its a vibe thing. I'm truly a super boring mid 30s academic who spends most of my days reading and writing. I'm the last person to be pushing the limits of rules. And yet somehow, something about the tone/vibe/approach of NCL staff leaves me feeling like I'm constantly being zapped with reminders of where the rule lines are.

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So. I think I'm done with NCL. I don't go on vacation to feel like cattle to be kept in line.

I'm solo on Jade next week for the Vancouver -> Whittier Alaska cruise.

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Wasn't necessarily planning on going but found a past guest offer that was great ($508 total for an interior) and I'm Seattle based so its easy and work is unusually calm right now so.....off I go!

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I had put on an UA offer on a Balacony and they just countered with $100 (total) for an Oceanview.

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I am making the decision based on worst case scenario which is: this lands me in a porthole room.

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So my question is: how much light do the potholes actually let in? My concern with an interior is sleeping in forever in the total darkness so natural light would be worth it to me. But I'm unsure if the potholes are so small, it actually doesn't make much difference?

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So overall: Jade for a week, currently in an interior, can upgrade to oceanview for $100, I care about natural light, if I end up in a pothole room, will it still feel worth it?

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Thanks!

Kids. So many kids.

I absolutely did not take it seriously enough the times I noticed in passing that Mandalay is often mentioned on here as a core rec for families with kids.

My hallway is constantly echoing with crying babies. I cannot get in the pool without being hit in the head by a 4yo with a nerf ball and bad aim while another screams a foot away from my ear. I cant get in the elevator without trying to squeeze past the unending parade of double wide strollers. I cant walk to/from the casino area without getting bottlenecked by a flock of 10 preteens with no spatial awareness.

I need a vacation from this vacation.

Learn from me: take it seriously when people say Mandalay is kid friendly. Its an understatement.

For the 200/400/600 off NCL rewards, it says select sailings only. Does anyone know how select that is? Very few options? Most things with some exclusions? Thx!